New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-07
FROM MELODIOUS SOURCES.
BITS OF MUSICAL GOSSIP-A STORY ABOUT
MENDELSsOHN

! ON Staten Island. To talk with him no one would
| Imagine that his Boston careor alone extends
thirty four years and that before he settled the
length and breadth Of the United States for six years
as Q member Of the famous Germanla Orchestra
Ho Is stu hale hearty and vigorous. dreess wo ker
and bubbles over with enthusiasm soon as he gets
into Tie society Of musician He mas an me-
like those who remain Of his old associates loves to
reGsi the pioneer WORK done by the iermama In be-
half OF orchestral music over generation ago.
Here Is Of Mr.. Zerrahn's favorte anecdotes
which he repeated 10 some musical friends over q
glass. OF WurzburSer last Tuesdy: at In 1912
or '43, am not of tho year, that l went to
Schwern to attend music fes, al which Nendelssohn
was to conduct Now you know Mendelssoan was
great MUSICIAN and IL was not necessary for him
festival occurred an incident which sun lives IN the
memory % German Musicians as the Mon deis
story. You may explain IL To suit yourselves. Tho
orchestra was laroe One-twcnty SIX victims heaued
by Ferdinand pa id-and the chorus about 800
voices At tho last general rehearsal for st. Paul
In tho chorus, y great Is the DEPTH, Mendelssohn
said: At ono OF the last violin stands somebody
played L sharp intead Of f. His fnend David I'M
inspedln; the Iarts When no reached last no
cntd out: 1'vo found it Herr Doctor; here Is the
In admiration of such acucncss ot hearing, and after
the rehearsal when / went TO tho boerhouse with
some OF the orchestra players nothing was to DO
heard except expressions OF wOnuor 1T Dr. Mendels-
sohn's keen ear Now leave 1t to any conductor
to tel whether there ever has existed or can exist
able 10 detect one + sharp In twenty-sN Nio
Inns, with chorus organ and orchestra Laying tt1
| the incident in came volmist who bad sst at the
last desh: Immeda1y he wa; s.s surrounded
"a very singular performance that sharp sharp,
SAID the fiddler dry ~ DO you know, my parsGer
so he absent from rehearsal tins morning and
whom Dr. Mcndelssohn heard that I sharp which the
conccrtmeister found In my part was engaged In
putting new string
And the who's thing was petty conspiracy BE- BE-
tvrapn Meudci nd ey
II don't explain 1t; but the sharp before the
ha nr,c ~ such l circmmsiances can YOU now and
Mendelssohn was not dependent on such tricks lor
his reputation was he"
Mr.. Zerrahn tlkei Interestingly about tho choral
prospects Of the coming season, and interrupted his
conversation Boston and Worcester to say that
the most inspiritilg and in all respects admiral
choir SINGING he had heard was that OF tho
ytars In Petersburg, Virginia 81 could scarcely
believe my ears he said There aro $50 singers
from that ouof-the-way section far from the centres
OF musical influence, that sing moets capcia IN
vney. We can't touch them. And thelr arilI,
master ia rich tobacco merchant-a German nance
Notinlus."
Tho choral performances OF the coming season are
those Of the New-YOrk OratOrio Society Boston Han
del ard Haydn Society and the festivals at Worcester
and Cincinnati Tho OratOro Society has not yet
Issued prospectus. but it is understood that three
will bo Uandl's Messiah" Bachs passion Music
according 10 ~. Matthew" and Brahms's song OF
Fate"-thc latter a novelty In New-YorE. Tho Handel
and Haydn Society Will give four concerts a. follows:
December %. Messiah: January 30. b rli0Zs ITO
Dcum" and Paincs lode to the Nativity March d.
Rach's "s Matthew Passion; Easter Sunday, nan
dcl's "Judis Maccsba~us." At tho Worcester fe~ti-
val beginning Scrtembor GS the prnc nj works
win be Bruch's "Armlnlus." feriols Termination OF
Faust" Nrn'elSsOhn's "Mhsummor Nights Dream
with readings BY Mr.. Riddlel: Menoelssohns "Eil-
iah," Schubcrt's "NNIId Psalm" and moet by
mozart. The Cincinnati festival 10 be conducted by
ThroNorc Thomas nc,t May Will bring forward Ru.
hInsicins "ParId-e Lost" Mendelssohns st Pall'
and DyOraks "Spcctrcs Bride"
II IL reported that tho "Dcut7chcs Theatre In
pcrln has cor,mIs.Io M)rit1 MOsZ Ovskl 10 COM
,nso incidental music for GOcthc'S Faust"